Despite having had a lot of experience of falling asleep in a reclining chair at home (as Cissy will verify), I didn’t have any meaningful sleep on the ferry. Breakfast was a few snacks bought from Newhaven’s Morrison Local.

The plan had worked. Being the last bike on meant that I was the first to leave and the first bike throught immigration after a short wait behind a few cars. Hardly a groundbreaking discovery, but perhaps a result of getting older and being less impetuous and more experienced.

I was cycling on French roads at 5:20am and found myself behind crazy Carl from the night before so caught up with him. While it was still dark, and lights were needed, we soon found the Avenue Verte signs. It was also cold and I was pleased that I had brought my head scarf and gloves.

There were a few things bugging me about Carl. I couldn’t work out why he was loaded up with 4 panniers and camping kit for such a long ride over a couple of days, and when he stayed in a hotel in London. Perhaps they were full of polystyrene – maybe I should do that when cycling up Boxhill on a ‘peak’ July Sunday morning. Secondly his bike sounded like a box of spanners. Nevermind.

We were making good progress @16mph (for reference this is the speed that Josh Kerr broke the world mile record at the weekend – running !). But with calls of nature for him and photo stops for me we lost each other after about 20 miles. While we were making good progress, you lose the ability to stop spontaneously and my cycling is all about travelling rather than racing.

The first stop of the day was at Neufchateau en Bray after about 22 miles for a coffee, fill the water bottle and to warm up. It was 11 degrees.

The Avenue Verte was nice. Think of an old railway line tarmac’d with wooden barriers at every road junction. It passed through some nice countryside, old converted stations, villages and a few chateaux, but best of all avoided the need for navigation.

I arrived Forges les Eaux after 34.5 miles at 8:45am where it was 14 degrees and time to remove my jacket. As I needed to go in a slightly different direction to the AV, Google helped me out with some suggested routes. Unfortunately when it directed me down a road that ended up as a rough track, I was reminded that it isn’t perfect. Should I stay (on it) or should I go (back) ? I stayed on it this time, but learnt to refuse others as I didn’t know how bad they would get or how long they’d go on for. I probably encountered 4 or 5 and each needed time out to consider my options, retrace my steps and then take a longer route round. Sometimes the route suggested that I cross a field with no sign of human habitation anywhere and the prospect of some angry French farmer shooting at me ! I sometimes think it’s Google’s idea of a joke.

It’s always nice travelling through local communities picking up on local issues. ‘Non aux Eoliennes’, means ‘No to Windfarms’, clearly a problem for most people in their back yard.

I stopped for lunch in Gisors after 67 miles; a tasty baguette, a large slab of orange cake and 1.5l of water. Sitting in the park provided a snapshot of French life; a primary school class having a picnic, 3 college students shooting hoops and a few office workers enjoying their lunch. Amazingly that there were no litter bins and no litter.

I was planning 10mph pace now, allowing for more Google deadends. The weather was great; sunshine in the mid-20s with a cross / tailwind. I was on for a 6pm arrival.

It’s always difficult cycling into big cities; endless traffic lights, navigation, traffic, but during rush hour was worse. Added to the fact that my phone was dying quickly, it became a race against time. While we’re so dependent on our phones these days, I had at least written down the address of the hotel. I knew that I had to go in a straight line over 3 rivers and that it was close to Port Maillot bus station. Luckily Google directions got me close by and I did the rest. Some sensible transport planning along one-way streets also helped.

On checking in at the hotel @6:45pm, I was assigned a room right by reception, where I could bring my bike in, given that I had an early departure. Only cyclists would understand what good news that is.

After a wonderful shower, I noticed that my phone wasn’t charging. However it was 8pm and I was I was in desperate need of some food. I walked into the first Italian I found and asked for a table by a power socket. This just proved that the charger, bought just 2 years ago in France was broken (https://andystravels6.com/r2r-day-2-trebuerden-to-st-brieuc/). Taking sympathy with my situation, the owner kindly suggested that I could use one at the bar. I then had a very relaxing meal and desert (to maximise the charging time) and left a generous tip as ‘success fee’. After shopping for some breakfast and a new charger, I promptly returned to the hotel and crashed out.

It had been a tough, but satisfying day; 119 miles (twice that of yesterday) with 1,275m of climb, but I knew that there were still harder days to come.